Chinese Spinach

This long-stalked red/green leaf vegetable is one of the most nutritious and is rich in vitamins A, B and C, protein, magnesium, iron, and calcium. It has twice the amount of iron compared to regular spinach. It is also an excellent source of dietary fiber.

100-gram of Chinese Spinach will give you:

over 3,800 international units of Vitamin A, which is more than three times the daily requirement of an adult.

50 mg of vitamin C

2.5 mg of Iron

168 mg of Calcium

20% Protein - higher than soybean, milk, or whole wheat.

Not Suitable for People With Gout

Spinach and this also includes Chinese Spinach, has a high content of oxalic acid. Hence, people with gout and kidney stone should avoid this vegetable.

Chinese Spinach in Traditional Medicine

Besides cooking, the Chinese used this red leaf vegetable amaranth in traditional medicine to heal fractures, as a supplement for heat stroke and for detoxification.

It is also believed to delay the premature graying of hairs. I have not seen or read any documented results yet but if you have success in this area please share your experience by leaving your remarks/observations in the comment section below.

Chinese Spinach Taste and Uses

Chinese Spinach with its sweet & tangy taste makes a great salad ingredient and a nutritious meal when steam, stir-fry or sauté. In some recipes, you will find Chinese Spinach mixed with fish or meat dishes.

It can be used like normal spinach and can be substituted in any of your favorite spinach recipes. As it cooks faster than normal spinach, take care not to overcook it.

It is inexpensive and easily available in most markets and is good enough reasons to try Chinese Spinach or red leaf vegetable amaranth.

Which Part of Chinese Spinach Can Be Eaten

The leaves and its tender stems are the edible portions.

In some other varieties of amaranths, they are grown and harvested for their seeds.

These seeds are eaten as grains and because of its high nutritional value and cheap production cost, it is now claimed to be the crop of the future.

How to Clean Chinese Spinach

Cleaning Chinese Spinach is easy and straightforward. Just wash it thoroughly to remove any dirt. If your Chinese Spinach came with the roots, remove them by chopping off about 2-inches above the root area, before washing.

Leave it in a colander placed over a sink for several minutes to dry. Alternatively, pat the leaves dry with kitchen or paper towel.

Chinese Spinach Recipe

Try the following quick and easy recipes using Chinese Spinach and enjoy its nutritional goodness.

Chinese Spinach and Almond Salad | Source

Chinese Spinach and Almond Salad Recipe

This recipe is a slight variation of the cooking site 'taste of home' version. This adaptation is a combination of Chinese Spinach, almonds, lean chicken and other vegetables.

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients (vegetables, chicken, and dressing) in a large bowl.

Toss to mix and combine

Serve immediately

Recipe for the Sesame-Ginger Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup rice vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)

2 tablespoons lite soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons finely minced ginger

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Preparation:

Mix thoroughly all the ingredients

Chinese Spinach or Amaranth Stir-Fry with Garlic

Chinese Spinach, when you stir-fried with garlic is another easy and quick recipe for you to try.

Just remember not to overcook as you will lose its nutritional content.

There are several versions of Chinese Spinach stir-fried with garlic recipe. This version is taken from chinesefood.about.com website and is quick, easy and tasty. I have replaced spinach with Chinese Spinach for this version.

It takes about 20-minutes to prepare and serves three people.

Stir fry Chinese Spinach or Amaranth with Garlic | Source

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cooking oil for stir-frying

2 teaspoons finely minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon chili paste (reduce amount for the less hot and spicy version)

10 ounces fresh Chinese Spinach, washed and dried

1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation:

Preheat wok

Then add cooking oil

When oil is hot, add chili paste, finely minced garlic, and salt.

Stir for a few seconds until chili paste is thoroughly cooked (when cooking oil turned red from the chili paste color)

Then add Chinese Spinach and stir for about 1 to 2 minutes

When the leaves are almost wilted, add in the sesame oil and sugar

Sprinkle the cooked Chinese Spinach with black pepper

Serve immediately

You can use Chinese Spinach in your favorite Vegetable Lasagna recipe | Source

More Ideas on How to Use Chinese Spinach in Your Cooking

As mentioned earlier, you can replace spinach with Chinese Spinach in most recipes. You can also do the followings:

How to Store Chinese Spinach or Amaranth

Chinese Spinach will quickly go limp after harvesting and to keep it fresh, sprinkle it with water.

If you need to store for a few days, wrap it in a damp paper towel and keep in the fridge vegetable compartment. It can be refrigerated for up to about a week.

But it is best to consume soonest possible to enjoy its nutritional goodness.

Planting Chinese Spinanch: Cut about 2-inches from the root section and place it in your pot or plant outside | Source

How To Grow Chinese Spinach

If you buy Chinese Spinach that came with the roots, then plant them by the cut-and-grow-again method. Chop about 2-inches above the root section and placed it in a pot or plant it outside in a moist, well-drained soil.

If you have Chinese spinach in your garden then during harvesting, cut back about two-inches above ground level. This will leave some of the stems and leaves to assist in regrowth. Red leaf vegetable amaranth or Chinese Spinach can regrow rapidly and this cut-and-grow again method works well.

If you plant from seeds, the seeds must be sown very thinly in the soil. When they sprout, replant them about 3-6 inches apart.

Chinese Spinach is a tropical plant and requires sun and high temperature for rapid growth. Hence, plant them in your garden that receives the most sunlight.

The soil must be light, sandy, well-drained and of course fertile. They must be well watered and being a fast growing plant, you will enjoy them a month after sowing.

My Other Articles on Healthy Fruits and Plants

If you have gray hair and concerned about hair growth, the Mulberry juice might just be your answer. Read more at Health Benefits of Mulberry.

Comments

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sending

Ethel Smith

15 months agofrom Kingston-Upon-Hull

Thanks Mazlan deinitely on my shopping list

AUTHOR

Mazlan

15 months agofrom Malaysia

Hey Eileen, this delicious Chinese Spinach is easily available in most Chinese supermarket near your area or in Manchester

Ethel Smith

15 months agofrom Kingston-Upon-Hull

Love spinach. Will have to look out for this variety thank you

AUTHOR

Mazlan

6 years agofrom Malaysia

Om, you are not the only person that hates the slimy taste. Unfortunately, the goodness is in that slimy stuff!!

Om Paramapoonya

6 years ago

Nice hub! I'm quite familiar with Chinese spinach and find it to be slightly slimy (a little too slimy for my liking). So I personally prefer stir-frying it rather than eating it raw in a salad. Thanks for the recipes and tips on how to use it in cooking. I'll try putting it in my omelet next time! :)

kidscrafts

6 years agofrom Ottawa, Canada

Great idea! There is a T & T supermarket not too far from my place. I never think to go there because I can find a lot of the ingredients I use closer from home..... but I will definitely try that one!

Thank you for suggesting that.

AUTHOR

Mazlan

6 years agofrom Malaysia

kidscrafts, you can find Chinese Spinach in Asian grocery stores or in Chinatown in Ottawa. Let me know if you have problem. Thanks for dropping by and appreciate your input and contributions.

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